Plants to Soak Up Wet Spots on Your Lawn

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Rather than allowing a boggy area in your lawn to harbor nothing more than mud and mosquitoes, establish water-tolerant plants. Perennial flowers, ground covers, shrubs and even trees soak up excess water with their extensive root systems and water-diverting foliage, which prevents erosion and stream-polluting runoff. Depending on how much of an area you need to cover, you may opt for a large tree, a multi-plant rain garden or simply one or two bog-loving ground covers. If you live in a Mediterranean region, look for plants that will thrive in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8 to 10.

Ground Covers

Low-growing plants that tolerate wet areas are obvious candidates for soaking up excess water, as are taller plants that spread quickly. Ferns are classic ground covers with copious amounts of water-filtering foliage as well as dense root systems. Choose tall specimens such as ostrich fern (Matteuccia pennsylvanica), as well as lower-growing, ornamental varieties such as painted fern (Athyrium nipponicum) and lady fern (Athyrium filix-femina). For color and scent, include lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis) and at least one wet-tolerant vine. Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) is one option for a suckering vine that helps curb excess water. Ornamental grasses also spread quickly and sop up excess water. Good choices include sea oats (Chasmanthium latifolium), sedges (Carex spp.) and giant reeds (Arundo donax).

Medium-Height Plants

Perennial flowers suitable for rain gardens are plentiful. The University of California recommends swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata), goldenrod (Solidago spp.), checkerbloom (Sidalcea malvaeflora), purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) and various members of the verbena and salvia families. Other flowers known for their vivid hues and usefulness in bog gardens include bee balm (Monarda spp.) and daylilies (Hemerocallis). Both boast dense underground root systems that spread rapidly but are not invasive.

Shrubs

A single evergreen or deciduous shrub can go a long way toward filling in a low-growing, swampy area in your yard, or it can form the backdrop of other rain garden plants. For shrubs that will stay green throughout the year and help control wet areas, appropriate choices include members of the Ilex family, such as inkberry (Ilex glabra) or yapoun holly (Ilex vomitoria). Deciduous options include buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis), spicebush (Lindera spp.), summersweet (Clethra alnifolia) and redtwig dogwood (Cornus sericea).